Research Interest

My current research focuses on social behavior and endocrinological correlates in male white faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus). In my study I will examine the effect of mother and father rank, aggressive interactions, influence of other group members and general group dynamics on testosterone and cortisol levels throughout development in male white faced capuchins. The main topics of my research are endocrine correlates of:

Development

Adult male behavior

Migratory dynamics and rank acquisition

I use Enzyme Immuno Assays to measure hormone levels in non-invasively collected fecal samples. The samples stem from approximately 80 male white faced capuchins collected in Lomas Barbudal, Costa Rica since 2006. By linking testosterone and cortisol levels to behavioral data, I hope to get a better understanding about the life history decisions of male white faced capuchins.